World Zionist Congress Elections 2025

What is the World Zionist Congress?

Often called “The Parliament of the Jewish People,” the World Zionist Congress convenes every five years to bring together representatives from Jewish communities around the world to decide on key issues affecting the Jewish people in Israel and globally. 

WZC delegates make key decisions regarding the leadership and priorities of the World Zionist Organization (WZO), the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet LeIsrael (KKL-JNF), The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), and Keren Hayesod. These decisions will dictate the course of over $1 billion in funding annually in support for Israel and world Jewry. 

Learn more about the World Zionist Congress

Here from Yael Schweid, Golden Hanassi Fellow and HUC Rabbinic student in Jerusalem, about why your vote is so important.

Why vote Reform?

A vote for the Reform Movement in the World Zionist Congress elections is a vote for our values: equality, democracy, pluralism, justice, and peace in Israel, rooted in our love and support for the people and the state of Israel.

Our “Vote Reform” slate is deeply committed to a strong and secure Israel and strengthening the Israel-Diaspora relationship, working in close partnership with our Israeli Reform Movement. 

Learn more about the Reform Movement Slate

How does the election and voting work?

The election is structured similarly to Israeli elections, in that you vote for a “Slate” rather than a single candidate. Each slate has a list of representatives numbered in a specific order, and the number of votes a slate wins determines how many representatives have a seat in the Congress. The more seats a slate wins, the more influence they have in determining policy, allocation of funds, etc. 

The World Zionist Congress is composed of 525 total seats, with representation from three different geographic areas. Israel has 200 seats, which are automatically divided along the lines of political parties’ representation in Knesset. Another 152 seats represent the United States, divided according to the election results. The final 173 seats are chosen by other countries, either through a public vote or, in smaller communities, by local Jewish leadership.

Watch: Your Vote for Israel’s Future

Temple Shaaray Tefila clergy and members on the Reform Movement slate:

Michael Laufer
Rabbi Jill Rubin
Rabbi Joel Mosbacher
Marla Gamoran
Sumie Okazaki

Registration and voting will open on March 10, 2025 and will go through May 4, 2025. Voting will be online. The fee to register and vote is $5, which goes to cover the operating costs of the election.

The election is administered by The American Zionist Movement (AZM), which is comprised of 46 national Jewish Zionist organizations and works across a broad ideological, political, and religious spectrum linking the American Jewish community together in support of Israel, Zionism, and the Jewish people.

Who is eligible to vote?

In order to vote in the US, one must:

• Be Jewish (and not subscribe to another religion)
• Be 18 years or older by June 30, 2025
• Be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident in the U.S.
• Maintain your primary residence in the U.S.
• Accept the Jerusalem Program (a set of ideals and principles that established the foundations of Zionism)
• Have not voted in the November 2022 Knesset election (and will not vote in any future Knesset election which may be held prior to July 28, 2025)

More information about the WZC and what is at stake in this election

American Zionist Movement – WZC Election Website
Learn about the WZC elections and why your vote is crucial to the future of Zionism and Israel’s connection with the American Jewish community. 

Vote Reform Website
Learn more about the Reform Movement slate, its platform, and why voting is so critical to the future of Israel.

Billions at stake: Orthodox-liberal struggle in WZC vote
Compelling article from The Times of Israel 

Congregation Ezt Chayim page on WZC
Detailed information about the WZC and how a new orthodox slate negatively impacted the liberal vote in the last election (2020)